Senshu Region

Senshu Region

An acclaimed producer of cotton cloths, blankets and towels

Osaka City prospered with its textile industry, earning its ‘Manchester of the Orient’ title before the war. After a series of leading cotton spinning and textile trading firms set up shop here and started importing raw materials, it expanded to become a major production player.

The Senshu textile region, meanwhile, which corresponds to southern Osaka, grew as more and more cotton and cotton woven textiles were produced there during the Edo Period (1603-1868). Production of cotton fabrics in the region centred on the cities of Izumi and Kishiwada, with single-width cotton cloths first emerging, then double-width textiles for export, spurring its growth. Progress stalled, however, when a rapid influx of imported cotton cloths and other products made it less competitive and many companies either closed down or went into other business when Kansai International Airport was constructed.

Izumiotsu City and its surrounding area, in the Senshu region, is renowned in industry for its wool textile and blanket products. Originally, the area used to produce Sanada-Himo (flat braided cotton cords). Later, however, around the time of the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars (1894-95, 1904-05), the decision was made to manufacture blankets for military use, which remains the case today. The area around the cities of Izumisano and Sennan is known for the bath towels it produces using the ‘ATOZARASHI’ method (post-weaving bleaching and washing), which retains excellent water absorption.